Friday, May 23, 2008

J-Music: Last Friends Theme Song


Yeah! Utada Hikaru has released a new song "Prisoner of Love" few days ago (May 20) ! Yep, it has already secured the #1 spot under iTune Japan Top Song.

The track has a few versions, and this original will serve as the theme song for the Japanese TV drama "Last Friends".

Came across her song while watching Hana Yori Dango 2 (F4 series). It was the insert track "Flavor of Life" (dwnld) that caught my attention to this singer even though by then, the song was already her 18th single releases.

Thought about it and decided that I would only share the "Prisoner of Love" original version (dwnld) here and not the whole album because the idea is for people to like songs heard and START buying artists ORIGINAL albums like I did.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

J-Music: Beautiful World || Fly me to the Moon

The theme song for the "Rebuild of Evangelion 1.0 " movie is (by Utada Hikaru) 「Beautiful World 」(dwnld) and of course, we wont be doing without the unforgettable anime signature track of 「Fly me to the moon」 (dwnld).

My initial impression of the newly "revised" Fly me to the moon" was quite undecided. It is completely different from the first animation sound track release. I couldnt tell if I love the way the change the starting or hate it. Eventually, I guess it grows on you because it isnt sickly draggy, plus the fact Utada has a powerful vocal which helps prevent you being drowned in this track.

Beautiful world track is exactly the way I would expect it to be for an Evangelion movie. Quick tempo, upbeat and slightly haunting (not the best word but that's what popped into my mind)



Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) -2007 MIX- - Utada Hikaru

Beautiful World - Utada Hikaru

Sunday, May 18, 2008

J-Music: Tane wo Maku Hibi

One of the few rare insert song that caught my ears from Bleach Anime.... this is a keeper.

Track: Tane_wo_Maku_Hibi (
Download)
Singer: Atari_Kousuke

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Overview: Zettai Kareshi


Zettai Kareshi is up to episode 5 (review) now but I still have not fallen in love with the drama series. Reason being is that I still cannot reconcile it being different from the manga series in terms of some character development.

For one, I didnt like that Tenjo Night looks/acted so robotic in this series. He looks too fake and it hinder my viewing pleasure. I know the idea is that the audience should know he is a robot. However in the manga series, that is NOT how it should be. In the manga, Night looked and appeared so humanised that no one can tell he is robot and I thought it would have been better if the TV series had portrayed him to be so.

Mikka is suppose to be an utter bitch but the TV series again gave her the chance to be "oh I am falling in love." I wish they stuck to the fact that Mikka is just pure jealous and hated Rikko and will do anything to sabotage her "love life" at any price. In the manga, Night never wavered from Rikko no matter how much Mikka tried to steal him. In fact when Night was accidentally rebooted, what made him special was that he still remembered Rikko as his exgirlfriend which made him unique as his memory of Rikko wasnt erased.


In the TV Episode 4, it wasnt clearly specified as Night had asked Rikko who she was after Mikka's kiss, meaning he didnt rem her, but yet the programmed hobbies (what rikko likes) was retained. Duh? The impact was lost even though the Tv series tried to reinstate the fact that "memory of rikko wasnt erased" after the fire incident but I think it would have been better if Night had remembered Rikko as his ex-gf when he was first rebooted. That would have made the impact that Night was "Humanised" by Rikko and his love for her is so strong that a prgram couldnt delete his memories of her.


The only thing that kept me watching is the development between Rikko and Soshi, the chief. That is something different and non existent in the manga so it's worth watching. Plus I like the actor Hiro who plays Asamoto Soshi, if only they will do something about that awlful poodle perm hair. That hair is in a mess even for a stylish Jap guy!!

As for the theme song "Okaeri" おかえり (dwnload) , it is definitely more impactful than the one I had mentioned earlier for Accuracy of Death movie. For one, the singer's voice is more powerful and wider range. According yo Wikipedia, the singer Ayaka was approached by the manga artist of Zettai Kareshi to create a theme song. So she read the whole series, then wrote the song with her music producer.

J-Music: Zettai Kareshi Theme Song

For the Zettai Kareshi theme song "Okaeri" おかえり (dwnload) , it is definitely more impactful than the one I had mentioned earlier for Accuracy of Death movie. For one, the singer's voice is more powerful and wider range. According yo Wikipedia, the singer Ayaka was approached by the manga artist of Zettai Kareshi to create a theme song. So she read the whole series, then wrote the song with her music producer.

J-Music: "灯火" (とうか/ Touka)

After several days of listening to Fujiki Kazue's cd album, the 2nd track "灯火" (とうか/ Touka) (dwnload) is growing on me more than "Sunny Day", the Accuracy of Death (Sweet Rain 死神の精度) theme song.

I think the biggest flaw in "Sunny day", is that I could almost hear her trembling voice as she struggles to go up the vocal range. In the 2nd track, her flaw is seemingly less obvious and hence doesnt grate my listening pleasure I suppose... Oh well, its all but a personal preference...

Monday, May 12, 2008

K-Music: Clazziquai

Recently discovered this Korean singing group "Clazziquai" and I found some of their songs really good. Most of the tunes I liked are kinda like Jazz lounge sort. Especially like these 2 tracks, but Dance is my fav!

(Download) Speechless



(Download ) Dance (Colour your soul album)



Dance Lyrics

Don’t wipe your tears, let them fall as rain on your path
Show your bright smile, let it be the light on your path

When the darkness fades and clouds pass
Hold your tears and show your lovely face
Can you ever understand ?
And you're always on my heart
Put your arms around my soul till I get to you

Dance now (hold your breath)
don't you cry
take my hand, hold your breath, the night is young
dance now (hold your breath)
show your smile
take my hand, hold your tears, the love is young

When sadness tries to take over, take my hand, and dance with me, so you can see
To keep separation from being our destiny, set you free, to be with me, so you can see

Doodoo Dooroodoo…

Dance now (hold your breath)
don't you cry
take my hand, hold your breath, the night is young
dance now (hold your breath)
show your smile
take my hand, hold your tears, the love is young

Let’s not regret, even though we won’t be able to meet again
Now it’s time for me to go, to be with me, so you can finally see

Dance now
don't you cry
take my hand, hold your breath, the night is young
dance now
show your smile
take my hand, hold your tears, the love is young

J-Music: Accuracy of Death / Sweet Rain Theme Song

The theme song of the "Accuracy of Death Movie" is not bad.
The singer is Kazue Fujiki, who also acts in the movie and the theme song is "Sunny Day". (Download)

Expect it to be better for the main song but I guess it is ok.
(Ps: I personally prefer Touka of the album)